Vehicle wheel



My ME 2 g d 6 P m 6 G. E. DUDLEY VEHICLE WHEEL Filed NOV. 21, 1925 Patented ta. 20,1927.

oneness. mint-m, or ROSEVILLE', CALHOBNIA.

VEHICLE WHEEL.-

, Application filed November 21,1923. Serial no .'1o,a;.

This invention relatesto vehicle wheels and particularly to elastic wheels of the type preferably employing a solidcushion tread and a pneumatic hub structure, and has for some of its objects tlie provision of a wheel having maximum buoyant qualities; one which will be simple, inexpensive and-ne liable of action; and one whereinthe various instrumentalities employed arefreely accessible-at all times in order that quick repairs and replacements can be made when desired.

Another object of the invention. is to pro- "vide a wheel of this character which Wlll pro erly function on the application of relative y low air pressures to the pneumatic tubes; of the hub structure so that the wheel will have theeasy riding properties of tires commercially known as the balloon type.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature ofthe in vention is better understood, the same .con-

pointed out in the claim.

sists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will here1n-, after be fully described and particularly In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a sin 1e and preferred :form of the invention, it eing, however, understood .that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein cx hibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within thesco of-thei'claim may be resorted to when desired. j V

igure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the wheel;- Figure 2 is aview in side elevation of a portion of the wheel, parts broken away and parts-shown in section -forthe purpose of clealness; and ra of the disk 8 and provided wit Figure 3 is asectionion line .34 of Figure1.= i In ca-rryin the invention into practice, I em lay a cus ion tread member 5 mounted int e channel 6 of a rim 1'. This rim i's carried by a vertical disk 8. .i Th" hub structure comprises two annular v members 99 located at the opposite sides flanges 10 bolted at 11 to the disk 8 or otherwise suitably secured thereto in any well-known, mani 'ner. Each'of theseannular membe'rs 9 is provided with a series of grooves 12' which extend parallel to the axis of the wheel and :which are adapted to be alined radiall with corresponding grooves 12 in the tub arextensions 14 of the respective separable elements 13, 13. These extensions are spaced apart from the coacting members 9-9 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing.

The disk 8 is provided with a central openin'g15 through which an internally tapered axle box 16 is mounted, thesame secured to the elements 13-1 3 by means of keys 17.

adjacent to one side-ref the disk 8 Withgroov'es'19. The corresponding face of the other element 13 is provided with wedge shaped lugs or projections 20 formed of rawhide and adapted to slide in the wedge shaped recesses 18 so that there is relative movement between the axle of the wheel and the tread member 5. a

The axle box 16 is of the usual type which will accommodate itself to the customary anti-friction rollers, and as illustrated, the ends .of theaxle box are threaded to accom modate themselves to clamp nuts 21 so that all of the separable parts of the hub structure and the axle box are firmly secured in position;

Located at the respective sides of the disk 8 are pneumatic tubes 22-22. These tubes are provided on their inner faces with lugs 23- accommodated in thegrooves 12 of thetubular extensions 14 and on their outer faces the tubes ?are rovided with similar lugs 24 which "exten into the grooves 12 of the members 9. These tubes are provided ill) with valves 25 whereby the tubes can be inflated as desired.

grooves in the tubular extensions 14 an The lugs and 24 and their coactin members 9 serve to hold the tubes fagainst circumferential movement-I It will be lappmhtedl from, theconstrucon either the frontorre l f a.- vehicle. r a

tion set forth herein that a wheel-of this type may be used It follows'from substitute for t e form of wheel employthe construction set forth that a wheel is rovided whichis a reliable ing a pneumatic the at the It is further apparent that at the shown and described, while arranging a b place 'n'g the tube .22 r;.:" lib of, the whe hl and in' the position s i r h atread at, the ofthe wheel,

the attendant disadvantages of the wellknown pneumatic tire are eliminated, while all of the good qualities are preserved.

Also, from the construction herein set forth, I

- struction herein set forth aifords opportunity for easily disconnecting the tubes from the hub structure for replacement or repair purposes. It also follows that fromthe construction of thehub of'my wheel the side walls of the tubes 22 will freely accommodate themselves to the action of pressure,

forces or stresses applied thereto. These tubes are practically free to move in all directions except circumferentially.

I claim: V

A wheel comprising a disk having an elastic tire at its rim, the disk having a central opening "and radial communicating wedge shaped recesses, annular members secured to the respective sides of the disk, an

axle box'passing through the opening of'thc disk, elements through which the axle box passes, said elements being respectively located at the opposite sides of the disk and provided with non-metallic wedge shaped lugsfree to slide in the recesses of the disk,

and pneumatic tubes between the elements and said members.

' GEORGE E. DUDLEY. 

